New Drum Heads Or Better Tuning?

[DeadlySurfer]

Hey,

So i've had my kit for about a year, a Mapex horizon HX (I believe), but i joined a band as a guitarist which has now split so I'm only really starting to play again.

My main problem is the tuning. I've tried to make it sound good, but it's pretty nasty. The stock Remo heads are on at the moment, and I'm trying to work out if it's them causing the bad sound, or if it's my tuning "skill".

Thanks

[Jazzy_Jefferson]

If you cant tune a drum, then it wont matter what heads you have on it.

Its a mix of the 2 really, good tuning and decent heads.

[DeadlySurfer]

If you cant tune a drum, then it wont matter what heads you have on it.

Its a mix of the 2 really, good tuning and decent heads.

Fair enough, but I'm wondering if it's the heads causing the bad tuning? They're cheap stock heads, have a few dents, coatings off the snare head, so that could be causing it I thought.

[Jazzy_Jefferson]

whilst better heads help, if you understand how to tune a drum, you should get a decent sound from factory fit heads assuming the heads are in good condition. If they are old, worn out etc. then they wont tune properly regardless.

what kind of sound are you after? Seems to me like you needs to get yourself some new stuff.

[DeadlySurfer]

whilst better heads help, if you understand how to tune a drum, you should get a decent sound from factory fit heads assuming the heads are in good condition. If they are old, worn out etc. then they wont tune properly regardless.

what kind of sound are you after? Seems to me like you needs to get yourself some new stuff.

Alright, thanks for the help man.

And I'm looking for a sorta, combo between Ginger Baker sound, kinda open, bright sound.

[mattbanshee]

You really really need new heads. I have a Mapex QR kit (the model before the Horizon) and the stock heads are shocking. They're not bad on the reso side because they're quite thin, but they are useless on the batter side. I put Evans G1 coated on my toms and gave them a good tune up, and sounds much better.

Also, if you're using the Mapex snare, you need to re-skin that ASAP, including the reso head. They use a standard-weight reso head on the snare, which is absolutely no good at all. It should be about a third of the thickness of a normal reso. Evans Hazy 300 or Remo Ambassador Hazy will do the trick for that, and something like a Remo Ambassador X or Evans Genera Dry batter head.

[thebeagle]

If the heads are 'dented' I'd say it's time to get some new ones; for an 'open' kind of sound I'd be thinking single-plies or fairly light dual-plies, maybe Evans G1/2s or Remo Ambassadors. Make sure you break them in properly when you first fit them or you're certain to suffer tuning problems; there's a fair number of videos on t'interweb outlining how to do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NesD...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ9Un...eature=related

For tuning (although they don't mention breaking-in):

http://www.evansdrumheads.com/EVMedi...49&MediaId=928
http://www.evansdrumheads.com/EVMedi...49&MediaId=929

[DeadlySurfer]

You really really need new heads. I have a Mapex QR kit (the model before the Horizon) and the stock heads are shocking. They're not bad on the reso side because they're quite thin, but they are useless on the batter side. I put Evans G1 coated on my toms and gave them a good tune up, and sounds much better.

Also, if you're using the Mapex snare, you need to re-skin that ASAP, including the reso head. They use a standard-weight reso head on the snare, which is absolutely no good at all. It should be about a third of the thickness of a normal reso. Evans Hazy 300 or Remo Ambassador Hazy will do the trick for that, and something like a Remo Ambassador X or Evans Genera Dry batter head.

Alrighty. I may have the same kit as you thinking about it, in grey steel.

So how about a Remo pro pack, such as a coated Ambassador for the snare, and maybe coated or clear heads, not sure on my pref. yet, and then a Ambassador hazy snare side?

I'm new to this (Due to lack of playing) so I don't know if those heads will give me the best sound, I know the coated Ambassador is the standard for snare batter. I'm trying to not spend too much, so if I can keep the stock resos on the toms that'd be cool. My kick sounds half decent, I'll tune it properly later though.

Lastly, any ideas on the best video/book/article for tuning is? I've looked on YouTube, drum tuning bible, all give different ideas, I'm looking for a nice place to start. For instance, tuning the batter for feel and the reso for pitch, I've seen people say it's great, others say never do it!

Edit: Beagle you mind reader, thanks for those links I'll check them out!
Second Edit: Looking at it, it seems I can get Evans heads cheaper, I think I'll pick those then.
Third Edit: Sorry, it's like 0:25 here, my minds not working. The prices seem to be similar, a G1 clear tom set is £23, plus a Genera HD Dry coated is £12.50, so £35.50. A Remo Pro Pack Ambassador tom set with coated Ambassador snare is £33. £2.50 difference, so it's down to which people reccomend.

[mattbanshee]

It's all much of a muchness really. Some people (e.g. me) prefer Evans heads, others (Jazzy, for instance) will only use Remo. There's not a massive amount in it really, so whichever you feel like.

All I'll say though is that an Ambassador snare head isn't a particularly sturdy snare head. It'll be fine if you're not belting your snare very hard, but I prefer a snare head with a bit more meat on it... The Ambassador X snare head is a good option, it's basically an Ambassador but about 30% thicker than normal.

Resonant heads-wise, the toms will be fine with the factory heads for now, as they're just thin, single-ply heads. You really really really do need to change the snare's resonant head though as the stock one is far too thick. A standard Hazy snare reso head is about a third of the thickness of a normal head, and this plays a huge role in getting the snare to respond well.

Martin Ranscombe has a brilliant DVD on drum tuning; very useful. I went to one of his drum clinics recently and it was ace. Otherwise, look on Youtube but beware of bullshit.

[DeadlySurfer]

It's all much of a muchness really. Some people (e.g. me) prefer Evans heads, others (Jazzy, for instance) will only use Remo. There's not a massive amount in it really, so whichever you feel like.

All I'll say though is that an Ambassador snare head isn't a particularly sturdy snare head. It'll be fine if you're not belting your snare very hard, but I prefer a snare head with a bit more meat on it... The Ambassador X snare head is a good option, it's basically an Ambassador but about 30% thicker than normal.

Resonant heads-wise, the toms will be fine with the factory heads for now, as they're just thin, single-ply heads. You really really really do need to change the snare's resonant head though as the stock one is far too thick. A standard Hazy snare reso head is about a third of the thickness of a normal head, and this plays a huge role in getting the snare to respond well.

Martin Ranscombe has a brilliant DVD on drum tuning; very useful. I went to one of his drum clinics recently and it was ace. Otherwise, look on Youtube but beware of bullshit.

Alright, thanks for all that.

I'm a bit weird with my drumming, I like the Ginger Baker style, very sort of flowing and, airy? If that makes sense. At the same time, I like rock and a bit of metal, so want to learn that just so I have a greater knowlage of the different beats and techniques.I'm using Vic Firth silencer pads at the moment, due to not liking my sounds too much and just so I can practise without making too much of a racket. That being said, when I get new heads I'll most likely take them off.

Something that I want to know about the Ambassador X, I like the thickness due to it being more durable in that sense, but will the head "die" (for want of a better word) due to it being under tension constantly? I'm not sure if that's worded right at all, hopefully someone can understand.

I'll defo change both heads on the snare, I was thinking of using a hazy too.

And I bought a few Rhythm mags when started off, and Martin did little DVD sections on tuning. I really liked his style, so I'll most likely pick up a copy

Again, thanks for the input man.